My two years serving the people of the Philippines as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

November 24

My family:) kumusta po kayo?
masaya ako and nagpapasalamat po ako para sa itong pakakataon na
magemail sa inyo:) I am happy and am grateful for this oppurtunity to
email you:) That is what i just said haha, crazy words huh? This
language really is a beautiful language and when you hear people speak
it, it just sounds great. Mama, thanks for taking the time to email your
son here in the Philippines:) Today has been a pretty great day for
sure. I am way happy Elder Bednar came down to the stake center, that
must have been a way special experience. Those missionaries are so
lucky, they were able to bring their investigators to that, that was
probably really powerful. I am glad that you all went and were
spiritually prepared for it:)

There
really isn't Thanksgiving here and if there is it was super small haha
but Christmas is huge here and people had lights up and music playing in
the beginning of October haha.

What
is little brother getting surgery on? No turkey bowl for them? Sayang
Naman! here in the Philippines they just call everyone little brother or
big brother and i have been in a habit of it as well. I get called big
brother or lil brother a lot throughout my day. That kinda just shows
you how people are all just family here, I really love it here and I
really love these people. The mission is way fun truly.

Coop! You are working your mission papers!
Ano ba iyan? sobrang ako para sa inyo talaga! I can't wait to hear
where you will be serving your mission! Sana pupunta ka dito sa
philippines! Hopefull you will come here! I wanna be able to speak
Tagalog with somebody when I get home, I really dont wanna lose the
language. Coop I am proud of you and your preparation. Keep moving
forward buddy, we dont have time to move backwards. Move forward and
hold to that rod.

So transfers are coming up and I am
probably leaving Bangui and I have been here in this area since the very
beggining and mama you asked me if I want to leave or am ready to
leave. I am ready but I dont want to leave. I have built a lot of great
relationships with these people here and have had so many great
experiences here in Bangui, I know I will really miss this area. But
most likely like 95 percent chance that I am leaving Bangui. We actually
have interviews with president this friday and I wouldnt be surised if
he just tells me then what will happen to me haha he has the tendency to
do that a lot. President is the nicest and just loving
President that I could ask for. He is great. I am a little nervous to
find out what will happen to me though. We will see!

Mama, yes I do know how to cook and I really enjoy
cooking. I am not super good and the other elders are way better then me
but I have learned a lot from them. The only problem is that literally
everything I eat is with rice so when I get home and cook, you best be
ready to eat some rice:) I really love chicken curry and adobo and
pinakbet and mongo and sinagang haha really just whatever but they are
really good. We eat a lot of fish and the fish here is super good and I
love it for sure.

So
as for Bangui we broke our record again for attendance at church! 64!
And when I first got here to Bangui the attendance was 30 so it has been
really joyful to see the area progress and I love it. Elder D
and I had a baptism this week. Elder D baptised him and that
was his first time baptising somebody and he did such a great job. Elder
D is the man and I am way bummed that we are about to have
differnet companions pretty soon. We are just trying to make the best of
the next three weeks. Elder D is just the goofiest guy
but way spiritual and just is the flat out man.

Thank you mama for all that you do as my mama and I
just want to let you all know that I am super happy right now here in
the Philippines and it is crazy to think that I am so far away but
because I am doing the Lords work and because the message that I have
been so blessed to share is true, being away from home is 100 percent
worth it. I know that if this was not the Lords work I would not be
here, I would be at home with all of you but because that this is the
truth and the Lords work he is literally walking with me every step of
the day, if i am worthy for Him to be there. I have never felt more love
in my life and not just from other people and their love for me or the
love of God for me but I feel love for my brothers and sisters here in
the Philippines. I have never felt this way about other people in my
life. I am lucky and blessed to be a missionary, I cant explain the
blessings that come from serving a mission but I owe it all to my Lord
and truly do give all of it to Him because if it wasn't for Him I would
not enjoy this mission or be so happy. I am happy and I love this
mission and that is all from the Lord. God has a Gospel and he has
teachings and when people abide by those teacings they are blessed
beyond more then they can comprehend.

1 comment:

Hello! Don't you just love it that they can just rattle off in Tagalog? My daughter's also serving in the Philippines. Looks like your son gives you a translation. Thank goodness! My daughter will give me half and then forget to translate the rest. Ugh!

Hey! I wanted to invite you to the new FB group for the families of Laoag missionaries: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Laoagfamilies/